Massage Therapist Summarily Suspended for Criminal Sexual

Conduct

Media Contact: LARA Communications 517-373-9280

Email: mediainfo@michigan.gov
June 18, 2018 - The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) served an
order summarily suspending the massage therapy license of Nathaniel Sixto Peterson of Macomb
County for criminal sexual conduct.
Peterson forcibly digitally penetrated a client’s vagina and groped the client’s breasts during a
scheduled 90-minute massage which resulted in a conviction of attempted criminal sexual conduct –
3rd degree felony in January 2018, according to the administrative complaint accompanying the
summary suspension.
Peterson also failed to report the conviction to the department within 30 days as required by the
Public Health Code.
The Michigan Public Health Code requires the summary suspension of a license when a licensee is
convicted of a felony. An order of summary suspension is a temporary measure to protect the public
and not a final determination that a licensee has violated the Public Health Code.
As part of the felony conviction, Peterson was sentenced to serve 180 days in jail, followed by five
years of probation which includes a prohibition from working as a massage therapist, and ordered to
register as a sex offender.
LARA encourages all concerned residents, patients, parents and peers to file complaints against
health professionals who may allegedly be risking public health, safety or welfare.
LARA values and relies on complaints from patients and residents to spur investigations into
licensed health professionals who are potentially violating the Public Health Code. Each and every
complaint received by the department is reviewed and analyzed by professional licensing staff.
For more information on filing a complaint with the department, visit Michigan.gov/BPL or review
the Citizen’s Guide to Filing a Complaint.